"We're here to remember, honor, and celebrate Black history and Black culture, which is American culture." With that mission, Arbor Heights Elementary students and staff presented songs and stories in an hour-long assembly this past Thursday afternoon. They were each other's audiences - joined by many parents, too.

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Baseball) As youth-sports signup season starts, West Seattle Baseball registration has closed, and it went so well, the league is looking for coaching help. From Karen Rains: Registration closed this week for West Seattle Baseball and interest and sign-up has exceeded all expectations! We are looking for another ...

It's been a hot discussion topic in WSB transit/transportation coverage for a long time - north West Seattle's relative lack of Metro service compared to other areas. In her newest weekly update, Councilmember Lisa Herbold announced she is asking SDOT - via the letter embedded above - to find out what it would cost to fix that.

The National Weather Service has made some changes to the Wind Advisory alert for today, first issued Friday morning. See the new version here. It's now in effect 9 am-6 pm, and at the heart of it, "Southerly winds will increase to 20 to 35 mph with gusts near 45 mph about midday."

(Anna's Hummingbird, photographed during a recent sunbreak by Mark Wangerin) Eclectic list, both in venues and activities, for today/tonight - see for yourself! EARTHQUAKE EDUCATION: Not in West Seattle, but at least one well-known local is participating - it's the public day at the Living with Earth Hazards in Western Washington - 2018 ...

FOLLOWUP: Arson investigation after eight SFD calls in five days at Fauntleroy Lofts

When a Seattle Fire Department "full response" was sent at midmorning Friday to 5949 California SW - the 2-year-old microstudio apartment building known as Fauntleroy Lofts - it was the eighth time SFD had been called there in the past five days.

It's been a busy week at local schools, with special events before Mid-Winter Break, including Chief Sealth International High School's annual Multicultural Night. We stopped in last night and caught a song by the guitarists and singers you see in our video above. The entertainment schedule also included mariachi, spoken word, and Native ...

FIRST REPORT, 4;48 PM: We're again at Sammamish High School on the Eastside for district playoffs, and the West Seattle High School boys have just won a decisive victory against Bellevue HS, 49-38, keeping the lead all game long. Next up, another must-win game for the Wildcats - 3 pm tomorrow at Bellevue College, they'll play the winner of ...

Thanks to Brent Lindblom for the update - you're invited to go cheer for swimmers and divers in the finals tomorrow! Congratulations to the Kennedy HS Swim and Dive Team advancing to the State Finals this weekend. Though Kennedy Catholic High School is technically located in Burien, West Seattle has many students attending the school.

You might recall that photo, provided by police on Monday when they announced the Sunday arrest of a man at a house on Puget Ridge. As we noted in an update to the story, he was released from jail Monday night on personal recognizance.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo, February 2017) The state has announced a fine for a diesel spill that followed a tugboat incident in our area one year ago. Here's the Ecology Department news release: The Washington Department of Ecology has fined Island Tug and Barge $8,000 for a spill of diesel fuel into the Duwamish River on Feb.

From the son of longtime West Seattleite Darrell Burleigh: I just wanted you to know that my father passed away recently. He was more than just the best dad a son could hope for. He was a great man. He led by quiet example. He touched many lives and everyone liked him.

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: See the open house maps/charts with draft height, cross-streets

If you went to the Sound Transit light rail open house in West Seattle this past Tuesday - or the one last night in Ballard - you probably saw the maps/charts that were laid out on tables for sticky-note comments. They were a different way of presenting information about the

Another stolen vehicle you might be able to help find - Adam reports his fiancée's car was stolen this morning in the Westwood area: The car is a 2010 White Ford Edge. On the back right there is an obvious spot where there used to be a Detroit 'D' magnet.

UPDATE: 'Full response' headed to West Seattle apartment building at 5949 California SW

10:30 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a "full response" to 5949 California SW. This is an apartment building that's had multiple fire alarms in recent days, including one earlier this morning. More to come. 10:35 AM: SFD says it's reported as a kitchen fire, and that the building's sprinkler system "contained" it.

There's been a lot of talk about wintry weather this weekend, but the only official National Weather Service alert for our area so far is one that warns of wind - 7 am-7 pm Saturday, a "wind advisory" with gusts possible up to 45 mph. See the full advisory here.

YOUTH SPORTS: West Seattle Soccer Club registering players for spring season

Continuing announcements for youth sports league signups: Tim McMonigle sends word that the West Seattle Soccer Club is midway through registration for its spring season: 8-game season (Sundays). First game is April 8; Last game is June 10. No games on Mother's Day or on the weekend of the Memorial Day holiday.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the 'low bridge' closed? LOOK HERE) 6:59 AM: Good morning. So far, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle. HOLIDAY WEEKEND AHEAD: Monday is Presidents Day, and that will affect transit schedules - no Water Taxi on Monday; Metro will run the

Seattle Parks wants to be sure you know that Hiawatha Community Center has a week-plus closure ahead: Saturday (February 17th) through Sunday, February 25th, Hiawatha is scheduled to shut down so its floors can be refinished. (Note that ALL city-run community centers, and many other Parks facilities, will be closed Monday for Presidents Day - full ...

VIDEO: 2-alarm SFD response for 2-house West Seattle fire east of Fairmount Park

10:13 PM: A "full response" from Seattle Fire is headed to the 5200 block of 36th SW for a house fire east of Fairmount Park [ map]. The first crews arriving are seeing flames. More to come. 10:17 PM: A second alarm is being called as SFD says two houses are involved.

If you find an abandoned City Mini Double stroller somewhere ... it just might be the one those little West Seattleites were photographed in. Claire says it was taken from the trunk of their locked car. (We have asked a followup question about where it happened, and will add that info when we get it.)

BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School girls make it to district championship game after OT win over Bellevue

(Victorious WSHS girls right after the final buzzer) We're back in Bellevue at Sammamish High School, where the West Seattle High School girls have just won a hard-fought victory over Bellevue HS in a district semifinal game, 54-46. Regulation ended with a 42-42 tie, after the Wildcats trailed for much of the game - but they dominated in the ...

From 'MacArthur Park' to Pulitzer Prize: Colson Whitehead visits West Seattle High School

(WSB photos) By Tracy Record West Seattle Blog editor Before Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Colson Whitehead speaks tonight at Benaroya Hall downtown, he had a few other Seattle stops to make - starting at West Seattle High School. Language-arts classes filled the WSHS Theater this morning to hear him talk about the writing life.

Thanks to Kersti Muul, who pointed out via text that an Orca Network commenter reported orcas off Fay Bainbridge Park on north Bainbridge Island [map] about an hour ago - if they continued southbound, they could end up off West Seattle.

YOU CAN HELP! Admiral Bird co-proprietor launches One Million Tampons collection drive

Despite what the handwritten sign on the box next to Admiral Bird co-proprietor Corina Luckenbach suggests, that's not the first boxful she's received in her days-old One Million Tampons collection drive. As of our visit to the shop this morning, she had counted 1,144 tampons donated already!

Six weeks after the City Council signed off on the deal for Bruce Stotler's Schmitz Park-neighboring property, so that it'll eventually become part of the park, he signed the final paperwork in a small ceremony at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society's Log House Museum headquarters. With Stotler in the celebratory photo above are, ...

Thanks to Alki Point photographer Gary Jones for the photo of the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry M/V Kennicott, which is out on sea trials off West Seattle right now. The 20-year-old, 382-foot ferry has been at Vigor on Harbor Island, undergoing maintenance, and is due to go back into service in Alaska before month's end.

(Double-crested cormorant taking flight, photographed by Mark Wangerin) Morning through night, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar: CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOURS: Current 8th graders and families are invited to tour at 9:30 am today. (2600 SW Thistle) LOCAL AUTHOR'S STORY TIME: Kerri Kokias reads from her ...

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the 'low bridge' closed? LOOK HERE) 6:49 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported right now in/from West Seattle. Reminders: PRESIDENTS DAY ON MONDAY: Metro will be on a reduced-weekday schedule, and there will be no Water Taxi service.

(Photos by Max Westerman for WSB. Above, SLHS #14, junior Madison Jensen) A must-win game is up next for another local team that's still going in the postseason - the Seattle Lutheran High School girls. Tonight in the SLHS gym, they lost a hard-fought game to Friday Harbor, 33-13.

(WSB photo) 8:39 PM: The Seattle Police/Fire response in the 5200 block of Delridge Way SW is for a person who reported being hit by four people who then took off with the victim's phone. So far, the robbers have been described over police radio only as four black males in their early 20s, all wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and blue jeans.

West Seattle development notes, all from along California SW: SO LONG, EX-SPANKY'S: Last August, we reported that a demolition permit was being sought for the site we photographed today, 3276 California SW, a small, long-vacant commercial building to be replaced by live-work/townhouse units. Commenters noted that it was the former adult ...

THE WHEEL THING: Rainier Roller Girls' next bout rolls into Southgate on Saturday

(Courtesy THM Photo) Southgate Roller Rink - right next door in White Center - has made our area a hotspot for roller derby, for all ages, not just spectators, but skaters. It's where the Rainier Roller Girls' new season is under way, with monthly

Today we welcome Mission Cantina as a new WSB sponsor. Here's what they would like you to know about who they are and what they do: Mission Cantina: Celebrating Mexican food and culture in West Seattle's Admiral District since 2005. West Seattle-owned and -operated, proudly including woman and minority partners.

(59th/Admiral, December 2017) Some changes made ... some promised ... some requested. There's been a lot of back-and-forth about the intersection of 59th Avenue SW and Admiral Way SW in recent months. So what's next? An SDOT representative is on the agenda for the Alki Community Council's meeting tomorrow night (7 pm Thursday, Alki UCC, 6115 SW ...

Water Taxi fares rise on March 1st: Here's what you'll pay starting then

(WSB photo, July 2017) A reminder from the King County Department of Transportation today - Water Taxi fares are going up March 1st. From the announcement: For adults paying with ORCA, the one-way fare will be $5 per rider on the West Seattle route and $5.75 per rider on the Vashon Island route.

11:55 AM: Just in from Seattle Police - word of a burglary suspect arrested at a for-sale house, where officers also found items stolen in recent local car prowls: Shortly before 6:00 pm (Tuesday), officers responded to a reported burglary in the 6300 block of 36th Avenue SW.

YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE: City gets 1,000 more park/street grant ideas; here's how to help narrow down the list

For the second year, the city invited park/street grant ideas through what it calls "Your Voice, Your Choice" - and citywide, it's just been announced, 1,000 new ideas came in, in addition to almost 400 ideas getting rolled over from last year.

West Seattle Wednesday: Events you might love, on this Valentine's day/night

Happy Valentine's Day! And thanks to Mary for the photo of a neighbor's work at the 17th/Cloverdale traffic circle. Now on to WSB West Seattle Event Calendar highlights for the rest of your Wednesday: DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: Day of Remembrance Presentation by UW professor Dr. Gail Nomura, noon-1 pm at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in the ...

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the 'low bridge' closed? LOOK HERE) 6:50 AM: Good morning! Just checked around - no incidents reported in/from West Seattle. Note that next Monday (February 19th) is Presidents Day; no Water Taxi, and Metro will be on

Closer this time - but not close enough. Tonight at Sammamish High School in Bellevue, the West Seattle High School boys faced Rainier Beach for the second time in less than a week. This time, the Vikings won 76-63 - less than half the margin of last week's loss, but a loss nonetheless.

6:45 PM: By our rough count, more than 150 people are already at the Sound Transit open house that's on until 8:30 pm at the Masonic Hall in The Junction (4736 40th SW). What's billed as a short presentation is about to begin, and then the commenting and one-on-one chats with ST staffers will continue.

BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School girls beat Seattle Prep in district playoffs

We're at Sammamish High School in Bellevue, where the West Seattle High School girls have just advanced in the district playoffs with a victory over Seattle Prep, 72-60. Photos and details to come later tonight. The girls play here again at 3:30 pm Thursday vs. the winner of tonight's Rainier Beach vs.

8:11 PM: Thanks for the tips about Guardian One over White Center/South Delridge. We have a crew on the ground talking with deputies. So far, we're told they are investigating an assault in WC. Will add other details when we get them. 8:28 PM: Just talked with KCSO spokesperson Sgt.

12:27 PM: Seattle Fire has a big response on the way to the 9100 block of 45th SW in Fauntleroy. More to come. 12:32 PM: We're just arriving - smoke is visible. It's a three-story condo building with fire in one unit, per SFD radio, with one firefighter noting they've rescued a dog.

Today we are welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Project 968. Here's what proprietor Michael Browder wants you to know: Our mission is to provide every member and client access to researched protocols to increase the effectiveness of their workouts and provide individualized support in a community setting.

Green pigs pop up at Alki and elsewhere in Seattle: Turns out to be guerrilla advertising

Thanks to Al for the photo - Alki is one of the spots around Seattle where green pigs like those have suddenly popped up. Given the location, we first called Seattle Parks to see if the pigs were some sort of authorized art; nope, no one had asked permission to place them there, and Parks was working to track down who had, before having to ...

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EveryBlock collects 17 types of news in Seattle — including articles, real estate listings, meetups and conversations neighbors are having — and organizes it by location. Here is all the recent news and discussion near 8400-8599 34th Ave. S.W.